The Peak Daily

Canadian universities are getting into the VC game, with U of T and McMaster anchoring a new life-sciences fund aimed at turning more campus research into commercial breakthroughs in areas like cancer, heart disease, and brain disease. Plus, the collapse of the U.S.-Iran ceasefire is reviving inflation fears, as renewed conflict threatens energy markets and raises the risk that price pressures cou...

Ottawa is struggling to put tens of billions in foreign investment to work, as a lack of shovel-ready infrastructure projects leaves the UAE’s promised capital sitting on the sidelines and raises questions about whether Canada can actually deliver on its major-projects ambitions. Plus, Nestlé is rethinking snack flavours for the GLP-1 era, as weight-loss drugs reshape how millions of consumers exp...

Ottawa has selected Germany’s TKMS as its preferred bidder for Canada’s massive new submarine contract, a generational defence purchase that could be worth up to $120B and signals a deeper bet on European and NATO ties. Plus, Rogers is buying the remaining stake in MLSE, giving it control of nearly every major Toronto sports property and raising fresh questions about what consolidation — and possi...

Canadians are reading again, with young people leading a surprising rebound in books as a screen-time antidote and helping drive growth in print sales, indie bookstores, and audiobook demand. Plus, new spending data suggests Toronto and Vancouver’s World Cup hosting duties may not have delivered the economic boost boosters promised, raising fresh questions about the real cost of mega-events. And i...

StubHub is facing a proposed class action lawsuit after thousands of FIFA World Cup ticket buyers allege the resale giant never delivered their tickets — a messy case that’s putting “speculative ticketing” and last-minute seller cancellations back under the spotlight. Plus, Pokémon cards are exploding into a $15B+ collectibles economy, as Millennials and Gen Z turn childhood nostalgia into a high-...

Canadian carbon removal startup Deep Sky has delivered North America’s first direct air capture carbon credits, a small but important milestone for a technology that companies and governments are increasingly betting on to offset emissions from AI, energy, and industrial projects. Plus, the Magnificent Seven stocks are losing steam as investors start questioning whether Big Tech’s massive AI spend...

Chinese automakers are rapidly gaining ground in Europe, forcing German giants like Volkswagen, BMW, and Mercedes into cost-cutting mode — and offering a warning of what could happen if Chinese-made EVs break into North America through Canada. Plus, China’s new open-source AI model GLM 5.2 is climbing the rankings and impressing developers, raising the stakes for businesses weighing cheaper open-s...

South Korea’s new “dopamine sites” are letting people get the thrill of online shopping and food delivery without actually buying anything — a bizarre trend that highlights how much of the dopamine hit comes from anticipation, not consumption, especially when money is tight. Plus, Canada’s new pesticide legislation is raising alarms after giving Ottawa more power to authorize pesticide use even ag...

Global markets are getting rattled by yet another AI-linked tech sell-off — with South Korea’s high-flying Kospi taking one of the biggest hits as chip stocks slide and overvaluation fears flare up. Plus, Meta is reportedly building a prediction markets app that could push “betting on everything” into the mainstream for billions of users. Plus, in Big Picture: Ontario First Nations secure a landma...

Ottawa’s high-speed rail project is exploring a route change that could add a Kingston stop — a move that might broaden support, but also complicate the line’s speed and politics. Plus, Google is reportedly investing $75M in indie studio A24 to build AI film tools, putting the “creative-first” brand in a tricky spot as Hollywood weighs cost savings against reputational risk and job losses. Plus, a...

In today’s episode of The Peak Daily , we break down TD Bank’s new “productivity” software that tracks how employees spend their time at work — and what the rise of workplace surveillance means for anyone working remotely. Then we look at growing evidence that leaning too heavily on AI tools can erode key skills like critical thinking, debugging, and analysis. Plus, in The Big Picture: Canadian EV...

Canada is getting its first legal prediction markets app as Wealthsimple teams up with Kalshi, blurring the line between investing and gambling. Then, Apple warns iPhones could be headed toward the $2,000 mark as AI-fueled chip costs spike. Plus, in The Big Picture: the U.S. and Iran sign a deal to end the war, Empire doubles down on discount grocers, and Cohere locks in more Canadian compute from...

Today on The Peak Daily , we dig into a push to partially legalize psychedelic drugs in Canada through doctor prescriptions, and what lessons the country could take from places like Oregon and Australia. Then, Lululemon faces backlash in China after a Great Wall yoga event sparked cultural and geopolitical controversy, highlighting how high the stakes are for Western brands relying on the Chinese...

More Canadians are using GoFundMe to help pay for essentials like groceries, rent, and bills. Then, Ottawa introduces Bill C-37, a new First Nations clean water bill. Plus, in the Big Picture: SpaceX’s deal for AI coding startup Cursor, Gildan drops after a short-seller report, and Quebec reaches a French-language funding deal with three English universities. The Peak Daily is produced in partners...

1Password could be one step closer to going public after snapping up access-management startup Apono, fuelling fresh IPO chatter. Then, we dig into why credit card companies are racing to own your Friday night dinner plans, as Amex adds TheFork to its growing reservations empire. Plus Ottawa’s talks with Chinese EV makers, Fox buying Roku, opioid deaths dropping, and more. The Peak Daily is produc...

Canada’s growing reliance on U.S.-made AI tools comes into focus after Anthropic disables access to its newest models amid U.S. export controls and “jailbreak” allegations. Then, we look at why digital point-and-shoot cameras are making a surprising comeback as Gen Z chases Y2K-era vibes and more offline experiences. Plus Carney’s comments on CUSMA, a snag in U.S.-Iran talks, and Switzerland rejec...

We break down why Canadian and U.S. officials are publicly sparring but privately keeping the relationship on track. Then, we look at SpaceX’s blockbuster IPO and what mega-IPOs could mean for markets. Plus, the big picture: the Gordie Howe Bridge opening gets delayed, Koho hits unicorn status, and Ottawa rolls out a major food security plan. The Peak Daily is produced in partnership with reframev...

Today on The Peak Daily , we dig into the nicotine pouch boom among young Canadians and why regulators are struggling to keep up. We also break down OSFI’s push for big banks to lend more to small businesses, plus the latest on CUSMA uncertainty, the Bank of Canada holding rates steady, and Ubisoft’s latest round of studio closures. The Peak Daily is produced in partnership with reframevid.com

Today on The Peak Daily : Canada’s long-awaited Gordie Howe International Bridge finally gets an opening date, and buy now, pay later lenders set their sights on rent payments. Plus, in the big picture: Anthropic releases a new model, Apotex boosts its IPO target, and the Parti Québécois vows to pull Quebec out of the Alto high-speed rail project. The Peak Daily is produced in partnership with ref...

Canada is getting closer to a nationwide under-16 social media ban, with Ottawa set to table new online harms legislation that would also regulate AI chatbots. Then, we unpack new research linking the iPhone’s arrival to falling birth rates, and what that says about modern relationships. Plus, in The Big Picture: Ottawa backs off streamer fees, a US judge strikes down the $100K H-1B fee, and airli...

Toronto is flipping FIFA World Cup tickets at a markup, Canada temporarily restricts Texas cattle imports amid a flesh-eating parasite outbreak, and the big picture includes Iran’s latest missile strike on Israel, OpenAI’s reported pivot toward business-focused AI agents, and airlines bracing for a US$100B fuel-cost hit. The Peak Daily is produced in partnership with reframevid.com

Today on The Peak Daily , we’re breaking down Air Canada’s big bet on premium flyers with a new fuel-sipping A321XLR — and what it signals about the future of air travel. Then, we head to Nova Scotia, where the province is launching a “seafood school” program to hook the next generation on fishery careers and shore up a key export industry. Plus, in The Big Picture: Ottawa rolls out a $2.3B nation...

Canada’s coming submarine super-deal turns into a full-on bidding war as South Korea dangles “Project Beaver” — a massive hydrogen-trucking investment — to win a 12-sub contract potentially worth $120B over 70 years. Plus, famous short seller Andrew Left is found guilty of securities fraud in a “short-and-distort” scheme, raising fresh questions about market manipulation in the social media era. I...

Today on The Peak Daily , we dig into Ottawa’s plan to back Canadian AI startups with a new federal investment fund, and what it could mean for keeping high-potential founders building at home instead of heading south for capital. Then, we head to Vancouver, where a rare office-to-hotel conversion in the city’s downtown core aims to add much-needed rooms in one of Canada’s tightest hotel markets....